Steve Wickham (The Waterboys)

Steve Wickham (ex-The Waterboys 1985-2022)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4UQJwd3awQ&ab_channel=FishermansBluesHQ

Steve Wickham is an electric violinist, songwriter and composer and an award-winning Irish artist. Not only is he a gifted musician, he just happens to be one of the nicest guys in the Music World, too.

Steve started to play violin at the age of three. Later, he studied at the Royal College of Music in Dublin. In 1982, Steve met ‘The Edge’ (from U2) at a bus-stop, and later Steve went on to record “Sunday Bloody Sunday” and tour with U2.

Around the same time, Steve and a couple of mates started ‘In Tua Nua” which featured Sinead O’Connor as one of the vocalists.

In 1985, following some recording sessions in London, Steve was invited by Mike Scott to join The Waterboys full-time. Steve went on to influence their sound and record many albums with them, including the seminal “This is the Sea” and “Fisherman’s Blues”. He has performed with Mike Scott and The Waterboys on some of the World's great stages, including; the Carnegie Hall in New York, Sydney Opera House and The Royal Albert Hall.

Steve is a highly-respected session fiddler who has also recorded with Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Sinead O’Connor, World Party, Hothouse Flowers and more recently with Declan O’Rourke.

Steve continued to be an integral part of The Waterboys and during his time with them, he also released his first solo album ‘Geronimo’ (2006). Many Sligo musicians feature on “Geronimo”, including bodhran maestro Junior Davey, cellist Anna Houston, guitarist / flautist Tommy Scanlon, and harpist Deirdre Byron Smith. Other guests include Waterboys’ keyboardist Richard Naiff and Steve’s guitarist brother Henry. The album was named after his beloved long-serving violin and it also marked Steve’s first venture into production. The result is a lush, rich interweaving of Rock and Folk textures, shot through with the warmth of Steve’s personality and the ever-present beauty of his playing.In his solo work, Steve weaves a unique musical path which is undefined and unfettered.
His second solo album was titled ‘Beekeeper’ and was released in 2017. 'Beekeeper' showcases an artist in full flow.

Steve continued to be a central part of The Waterboys' recordings and their live sound until recently, when he decided he needed to devote more time to his own musical projects.

Writing songs and music has been his life since his early days and not being one to rest on his laurels, he continues to explore new musical territory. Whether it’s for film or theatre or live shows.

From composing and performing a crossover with Sligo baroque orchestra and Congolese soukous band Tropicana Musica to his work with world music group NoCrows, which incorporates gypsy jazz, classical and traditional Irish music, Steve is always moving forward.

His live shows are full of incandescent playing, sensitivity and wit.

Ray Coen: Guitar, Fiddle, Vocals

Ray has played alongside Steve Wickham over many years as part of an occasional band, which is called No Crows. Ray hails from Sligo and has many years experience as both a guitar and fiddle player. Over the years, Ray has increasingly moved from backing other musicians, to performing his own material. His debut album ‘Out of Sight’ was released in May 2009 and was described by Hotpress as both; ‘beautifully recorded and arranged’ and ‘music that is happy in its own skin’.

Ray has been a regular collaborator with No Crows since 2007 and was welcomed on board as a full blown band member in 2014. Ray has contributed greatly to the No Crows’ CD “Waiting for the Tide”, penning one tune “Good Times” and making a beautiful arrangement of the English trad song “Solvay”.

Between them, Steve and Ray will offer an eclectic mix of music and songs.

Tickets £15

Available from Des O’Byrne on 01428 607096